bark up the wrong tree

bark up the wrong tree
bark up the wrong tree
Fig. to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course. (Alludes to a dog in pursuit of an animal, where the animal is in one tree and the dog is barking at another tree.) •

If you think I'm the guilty person, you're barking up the wrong tree.

The hitters blamed the team's bad record on the pitchers, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

* * *
{v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. * /If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ * /He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ * /The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bark up the wrong tree — {v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. * /If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ * /He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bark up the wrong tree — To act, speak, proceed, etc under a misapprehension, mistakenly to take inappropriate action • • • Main Entry: ↑bark …   Useful english dictionary

  • bark\ up\ the\ wrong\ tree — v. phr. informal To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree. He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck. The… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • bark up the wrong tree — verb To do, believe, or pursue something wrong or inappropriate; to take the wrong approach; to follow a false lead; to blame or rebuke the wrong person. If youre lookin for somebody who gives half a shit about what youre sayin, youre barkin up… …   Wiktionary

  • bark up the wrong tree — look in the wrong place, do not expect it    If you expect money from him, you re barking up the wrong tree …   English idioms

  • bark up the wrong tree — make a wrong assumption about something The police are barking up the wrong tree in their investigation of that person …   Idioms and examples

  • bark up the wrong tree — vp Make a mistake, error. If you think I m going to help you, you re barking up the wrong tree. 1830s …   Historical dictionary of American slang

  • bark up the wrong tree — (Colloq.) Mistake, err, make a mistake, be in the wrong box, on the wrong scent, or on the wrong track …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • bark up the wrong tree — make an error; make a claim to the incorrect person …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bark up the wrong tree — phrasal to promote or follow a mistaken course (as in doing research) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”